At 66, and 12 yrs not riding at all, I bought a new Trek FX7.3 and have put more than 300 miles on it in 2 weeks. That has been fun and I wonder why I stopped riding over a decade ago.
The problem: I have fallen 2x when coming to a stop. I get my right foot unclipped and am easing to a stop. I seem to lose my balance and begin to tip to the left and can't get my left foot unclipped and bang. Fortunately, just some bruises--knee/elbow. Suggestions welcome.

I have averaged over 40 miles per week of running over the last 34 yrs. Actually, the last couple of yrs over 50 miles per week. I am surprised I have been able to ride as much as I have (several 40 milers and a 50 miler) in just a couple of weeks. The falling off is not fun. I have busted a couple of handle grip mirrors. Help. Thanks. Nick

I think you have probably gotten yourself pretty nervous now when coming to a stop - am I going to dab or splat?
So maybe what I would try is, as you are coming just about to a stop - lean the bike just a little bit over to the side you want to dab.
The only time I have had the problem you describe is when I have tried to stop where I am going across an incline. and I try to dab on the low side and the bike wants to go over on the high side.

At 66, and 12 yrs not riding at all, I bought a new Trek FX7.3 and have put more than 300 miles on it in 2 weeks. That has been fun and I wonder why I stopped riding over a decade ago.
The problem: I have fallen 2x when coming to a stop. I get my right foot unclipped and am easing to a stop. I seem to lose my balance and begin to tip to the left and can't get my left foot unclipped and bang. Fortunately, just some bruises--knee/elbow. Suggestions welcome.

I have averaged over 40 miles per week of running over the last 34 yrs. Actually, the last couple of yrs over 50 miles per week. I am surprised I have been able to ride as much as I have (several 40 milers and a 50 miler) in just a couple of weeks. The falling off is not fun. I have busted a couple of handle grip mirrors. Help. Thanks. Nick

Simple, unclip on BOTH sides when coming to a stop, rest the back of the unused foot on top of the pedal, if you start to fall the wrong way, then you can put your other foot out. You do this until you find your not going the wrong way anymore

Consciously lean toward the unclipped foot, so that foot has to step down to hold you up. One way to make sure you do this is to steer toward the clipped foot side. So if you unclip your right foot, as you come to a stop, steer a bit to your left and lean toward your right. Boom- you'll fall over if you don't put your right foot down, just the way you want it.

Practice this several times until it becomes second nature. Once you master it one side, do it for the other until your brain just makes all the right adjustments for the foot you're unclipping.

__________________I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.

Originally Posted by bragi"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."

Thanks for the suggestions. Very helpful. The lean and visualizing seems to work. To nail down #3, I just went out in my driveway and fell down. In my over 71,4xx miles of running I have tripped,fallen,been run of the road and had to dive to avoid getting whacked 5-6 x. Based on that, it appears running may be a little safer. Again, thanks for the responses. Nick

Honestly, is there anyone who has made the transition to clipless without at least one "Artie Johnson"?
One of the funniest things I ever saw was this kid who used to come into my shop all the time. He was about 14 at the time, and always full of questions. He was always saving his money for the next bike related purchase, and one day he decided he wanted to go clipless.
So he saved up, and bought a set of pedals and shoes from me, and I helped him install and set up.
The next day, he pulled up right outside the door and did a perfect tip over right there, both feet still attached to the pedals.
I ended up giving that kid a job not long after that.

Thanks for the suggestions. Very helpful. The lean and visualizing seems to work. To nail down #3, I just went out in my driveway and fell down. In my over 71,4xx miles of running I have tripped,fallen,been run of the road and had to dive to avoid getting whacked 5-6 x. Based on that, it appears running may be a little safer. Again, thanks for the responses. Nick

Okay, I made one suggestion, here is another one, get a set of cheap BMX platform pedals and a pedal wrench. Take off the clipless pedals and put on the BMX ones, when you get your riding in good shape, so that your not freaked out by stopping, take off the BMX pedal on the side you always tend to tilt over on, this could be right or left, some people are right handed, but prefer their left foot. Then you get used to clipping in and out on your preferred side, when you get this down well, you put the other clipless pedal on. You have resolved your problem. A lot of folks find that clipless, and toe clips are overrated for a hybrid bike. I tried clips on my MTB and didn't like it, will probably put them on my road bike when I get finished rebuilding it.

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Please don't take jackb's advice. I'm sure his heart is in the right place but once you get unconscious about clipping out the advantages of clipless pedals are abundant. Plus if memory serves to do toe clips right you get a little grooved plate for your shoe and pull your strap nice and tight which guarantees a fall or a twisted ankle. Or you get sore toes from pulling up with them.

Did you mention the pedal system you are using? Just curious.

__________________3ALARMER IN 2020 !...............................................Put 'em all in Texas.

Unclip both feet, even after you learn how to be perfect. In my last Tombay fall, I was unclipped on the left side and standing on my left foot........that's when the ped knocked me over on my right side. As I said, welcome. You will enjoy the pedals once you become used to them.

Simple, unclip on BOTH sides when coming to a stop, rest the back of the unused foot on top of the pedal, if you start to fall the wrong way, then you can put your other foot out. You do this until you find your not going the wrong way anymore

I've never fallen all the way (really! a few panic moments, though), but a few times when clipless pedals were new, I unclipped coming up to a stop, resting my unclipped foot on the pedal (spd). It clipped in by itself without me knowing. I managed each time to yank the foot out, but I was at least 45 degrees tilted over. So then I ended up with a strained leg, instead of a bruise.

So, be careful about how you rest the clipped out foot on the pedal.

At some point, the unclipping motion is automatic. I don't think about it anymore, and can be clipped in both feet as I roll to a stop, and unclip as easily as if I have a platform pedal.

I don't agree with those advising switching back to platform pedals or toe clips. You've already invested time and skin into the process of learning to use clipless. No sense backing up. You'll soon get the hang of it.

Disengaging both feet never worked for me. Trying to rest the unengaged foot on the pedal always seemed very unstable and I could easily see it causing an accident. Press on. Master the skill and don't look back.